The effects of individually tailored nurse navigation for patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer: a randomized pilot study.

Aim: Our aim was to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of an individual, nurse-navigator intervention for relieving distress, anxiety, depression and health-related quality of life in women who have been treated for breast cancer (BC) and are experiencing moderate-to-severe psychological and physical symptoms.

Methods: Fifty women with newly diagnosed BC who reported distress (score ≥7 on distress thermometer) before surgery were included consecutively in a pilot study and randomized 1:1 to the intervention or the control group. The intervention comprised repeated screening with patient reported outcome measures and nurse navigation.

Pain, Sensory Disturbances, and Psychological Distress among Danish Women Treated for Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: An Exploratory Study.

Ductal carcinoma in situ is a noninvasive precancer condition. The treatment resembles the treatment of invasive breast cancer. The aim of this exploratory study was to gain knowledge on the level of postoperative pain, sensory disturbances, and distress among a small group of Danish women with ductal carcinoma in situ who had sentinel lymph node biopsy in order to plan a population study.

Pain, sensory disturbances and psychological distress are common sequelae after treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ: a cross-sectional study.

Unlabelled: Sequelae such as pain, sensory disturbances and psychological distress are well known after treatment for invasive breast cancer (IBC). Patients treated for ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) receive a similar treatment as low-risk IBC. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to describe prevalence of postoperative pain, sensory disturbances, psychological distress and rehabilitation needs among Danish women with DCIS.

Preoperative Distress Predicts Persistent Pain After Breast Cancer Treatment: A Prospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Persistent pain after breast cancer treatment (PPBCT) affects 25% to 60% of breast cancer survivors and is recognized as a clinical problem, with 10% to 15% reporting moderate to severe pain several years after treatment. Psychological comorbidity is known to influence pain perception, and evidence links signs of depression and anxiety with development of PPBCT. The purpose of this study was to assess preoperative distress as a predictive factor for development of PPBCT.

Fatigue trajectories during the first 8 months after breast cancer diagnosis.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to identify distinct groups of fatigue trajectories among women with breast cancer and to evaluate whether age, anxiety symptoms, physical activity, and type of treatment were associated with belonging to the most adverse fatigue group.

Methods: Women scheduled for breast cancer surgery at Copenhagen University Hospital, Denmark, were consecutively invited to participate in the study (n = 424), resulting in 290 women included in the analyses. Semiparametric group-based mixture modeling was used to identify distinct trajectories of fatigue assessed the week before surgery and 4 and 8 months later.

Trajectories of distress, anxiety, and depression among women with breast cancer: Looking beyond the mean.

Objective: Little is known about the development of psychological wellbeing over time among women who have been treated for breast cancer. The aim of this study was to identify distinct patterns of distress, anxiety, and depression in such women.

Methods: We invited 426 consecutive women with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer to participate in this study, and 323 (76%) provided information on distress ('distress thermometer') and on symptoms of anxiety and depression ('hospital anxiety and depression scale').

Fast-track surgery for breast cancer is possible.

Introduction: Breast cancer is common among Danish women with more than 4,100 new cases annually. In 2008 the concept of fast-track surgery was introduced at the Department of Breast Surgery at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen. The aim of this study is to describe the new clinical pathway for breast cancer patients after implementation of a fast-track surgery programme.

Unmet needs of women with breast cancer during and after primary treatment: a prospective study in Denmark.

Unlabelled: Integrated plans will be required to ensure care and rehabilitation for the growing number of cancer survivors. Information is lacking, however, about the extent to which patients' rehabilitation needs are being met, and characteristics of patients who experience unmet needs after their diagnosis and throughout the disease trajectory.

Material And Methods: Consecutive women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, undergoing surgery at the Breast Surgery Clinic, Rigshospitalet, Denmark, between 2008 and 2009 (N = 261), completed questionnaires on their unmet needs, anxiety, physical functioning, social support and demographic factors at the time of surgery and four and eight months after diagnosis.

Psychological distress among women with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

Purpose: Psychological distress is common in the cancer continuum. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of distress and to investigate the related problems and the characteristics of women with breast cancer who experienced psychological distress at the time of diagnosis.

Methods: We used cross-sectional data from a questionnaire study.

Accuracy of the Danish version of the 'distress thermometer'.

Objective: Short screening instruments have been suggested to improve the detection of psychological symptoms. We examined the accuracy of the Danish version of the 'Distress Thermometer'.

Methods: Between October 2008 and October 2009, 426 women with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer who were operated at the Breast Surgery Clinic of the Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, were eligible for this study.